WATCHDOG REPORT VOl.24 No.97 March 15, 2025: EST.05.05.00 – A free community education resource
WATCHDOG REPORT
Miami-Dade, Fla.
Vol.24 No 97, March 16, 2025, Celebrating May 5th,2000: 25 -years of free weekly publishing! www.watchdogreport.net & Former Miami Herald featured, news reporter & education resource & news service, without the attitude.
>>> Just because you do not take an interest in politics does not mean politics will not take an interest in you. –Pericles (430 B.C.)
>>> ARGUS REPORT: HEARD SEEN ON THE STREETS
>>> The WDR now has two sources of having internet archives My webpage and The Wayback Machine where I was selected to archive because the WDR is a free no pay wall community education resource on the internet archive records permanently. I am feeling ill but will be back next week, with a normal WDR entering 25 years in May.
>>> The global economy is if wondering that all the tariffs will have a global domino effect around the globe, as retaliation continues. Stability is what has made the U.S., economy great and rule of law but the stock markets are reacting in a negative way and could end Trump’s honeymoon with voters. Further, his declaration of national threats of Venezuelan gangs adds another wrinkle to the administration, giving the president more sweeping powers only checked by the federal courts.
“Trust,” has always been a defining strength of America and has evaporated under President Trump and 48-years since WWII to build while some mistakes We always fought for free democracies, as America in the UN voted with Russia and China on a bad resolution. Something never done before, but has sent shivers to our longtime allies. He firing of so many government workers in NOOA, to Medicine not preparing for next ears flu vaccination and federal special agents across these areas of security, only another incident of terrorism may bring the nation to its senses as weather and medical disasters occur.
Editor’s note: I normally don’t write about this often but the federal agents I know are very solid at their risky jobs and have had some very unusual experiences. Further, China has instituted tariffs on Canadian goods, hurting the farmers also a great foreign policy friend of America.
ALERT: Johns Hopkins University has had its federal funding cut and is one of Americas greatest research universities and developed the implantable Defibrator, Dr Michael Murkowski, and his team of engineers. I met the physician and he told me how skeptical people were at the time but is now commonly used for people with arrythmias issues, including vice president Cheney.
OBITUARIES
>>> Republican Congressman Lincoln Diaz Balart, 70, a freedom fighter and ranking congressman, passes, and helped to establish the Hispanic caucus. He was the ranking member of the Rules Committee, the first committee after the Revolution along with the Customs department. He was a ferocious Cuban freedom fighter, in Congress during his long tenure, and was a beloved figure in the Cuban community, and will be missed.
>>> The passing of Perla Tabares Hantman, 88, has left us a leader of great stature as chair of the nation’s 3rd largest public schools’ system sadly gone. Hantman was a stickler on district rules and procedures and supported highly praised Alberto Carvalho who turned the struggling district around, now for 4 years of A rated schools and district.
Carvalho, was able to do this under her guidance. Jackson CEO Carlos Migoya had a similar trajectory as Carvalho at Jackson Hospital turning that around. Hantman was crucial in removing long serving Audit Committee Chair Hank Mack (who has two schools named after him, one in Broward Count who had a “awkward pause,” after he didn’t resign as expected at a meeting and the board was reorganized with CPAs, and tax attorneys, replacing the political appointees on the critical board after a wave of scandals in 2001of the district.
CITY OF MIAMI
“Nobody is a saint here,” said Commissioner Miguel Gabela after an exchange on the legal costs of commissioners. The city attorney George Wysong said he had a “$9 million budget, with 35 attorneys” and said he has had $500,000 in legal fees, but no total cost to date, and that was odd given the seriousness of the issue and community interest.
>>> Associated Press being banned at WH : But is a punishment for not recognizing The American Gulf, on maps and is seen as retribution to the press and First Amendment and AP is taking it to court.
Oval Office round one over after Ukraine president cancels mineral deal and security, package, off the table, getting worse denying US military intelligence information
An unusual meeting in the Oval Office between the Ukraine president Zelenskyy, and President Donald J. Trump has stunned European leaders as many see President Putin benefitting from the beat down by both Trump and V.P. Vance in a live media broadcast. Some suggest it was intentional and part of a strategy, by Trump.
However European leaders now question America’s commitment to NATO, the glue for mutual aid if attacked and has been vital to the European peace, as well in Asia and Taiwan. Trump would no concede that Ukraine was attacked by Russia and Putin a real sticking point.
>>> Further, with Trump making English the nation’s official language Hispanics, will be concerned of this impact, on their lives and will be felt deeply here in Miami-Dade County, and adds another social issue for South Florida.
>>> Further, the cuts of 600 NOAH employees, is scary and the weather forecasting is critical to the nation and alerts with Miami & Florida a target. And some two dozen were at the Virginia Key site and are a vital weather component that has water flooding adding to wind speed. And Local legislators should protest this move and restore the funding.
COMMUNITY EVENTS: The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse
591 NW 27th Street: Miami, FL 33127margulieswarehouse.com The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse591 NW 27th Street Miami, FL 33127
I will be back next week but in need of new funding and hope to be in better writing shape, wish me luck and some financial support this week came in, thank you Dan Ricker. Also not feeling that well.
>>> A new scam is being texted saying that you have unpaid toll charges, and is just another phishing scam. NOW includes a sun pass bill due just recently. And now includes Sun Pass asking for money fake
>>> Another scandal for Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo and Bay Front Park Trust hires law firm associated with former commissioner Marc Sarnoff (who is also representing the city in the Flagstone suit), to defend him in the suit. Carollo has become a legal liability to Miami and one commissioner Gabela wants to remove Carollo as chair from Bayfront Park Trust, that has faced numerous scandals over the years, and in 2001 was under investigation. The man is a legal liability as law costs going, to millions, during his time on the commission.
This was updated Thursday with Carollo bringing an item requiring all senior commission staff have a “complete background check and drug test,” and commissioner Miguel Gabela went after Carollo, “why now” after he had some controversial employees in the past now with a court case against Carollo, Gabela asked why is “he interested now?” said “the commissioner who is trying to keep the city of lawsuits,” he said. The item died because no second by a commissioner. But the commission chaos continues, sadly.
STATE OF FLORIDA
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
The county commission last Tuesday had a long discussion on the naming of the new downtown court house, on Flagler Street. There were two camps of speakers one suggesting Osvaldo Soto, an attorney who fought the English only ban and in 1993 fought its repeal, a time judges were telling attorneys “English only,” to the local old south judges that even forbid marriages being done in Spanish something I saw witnessed back then and at grocery stores as Hispanics new population grew especially after the Mariel Boat Lift caused a cultural change for long time Floridians being displaced, combined with the drug trade violence in 1982.
The other was supporting long time county Clerk Harve Ruvin who passed suddenly. HE was a strong advocate for the environment look at the county holistically
Miami-Dade County continues hiring FDOT district secretaries
>>> Stacey Miller was recently appointed director of transit and follows a host of FDOT past secretaries, from Alice Bravo, now a lobbyist and Johnny Martinez and have always had a superior position in transportation but an inferior position when at a federal level and I hope she makes more progress than the past FDOT directors.
County unlikely to save $160 million like JHS, different mentality and culture at public hospital system, and don’t have secret sauce CEO Migoya: county so political why few comments when discussing
Miami-Dade County considering using McKinsey after Jackson Health System saved $160 million after a two-year program called reimagine Jackson that was aggressively pursued with all employees on teams without firing anyone through the firms’ recommendations plus people working with the administration to achieve these savings while keeping medical care high and safe, after reductions reducing length of stay.
And some patients like staying but the key sauce to this equation is CEO Carlos Migoya and was left alone re political considerations, that will be absent at the county. Medical personnel have a work together attitude not always shared at the county level. With that I agree the count should look at finding savings especially if property taxes are eliminated, by the legislators and voters, are scared and a bad scenario for society as a whole in a county of 2.7 million residents.
>>> What about the tax appraiser using new office seal that will have to change again when they leave cost over & $7million in sheriff change in Broward County with removed Sheriff Ken Jenne, and would be more now.
To see seal :https://mdctaxcollector.gov/
>>> The Tax Appraiser asking for 2 percent of property taxes GF from the county and 34 municipalities is another blow to these entities budgets that have to balanced budget at the beginning of the year.
Press release: Rep. Carlos, Gimenez, R-Miami: New committee assignments for Congressman Carlos Giménez represents Miami-Dade County and the beautiful Florida Keys. He is the only Cuban-born Member of the 119th Congress, having fled his homeland shortly after the Communist takeover of the island. He is the first career firefighter paramedic elected to the House of Representatives and served as the former Fire Chief of the City of Miami and Mayor of Miami-Dade County. Rep. Gimenez was appointed by Speaker Mike Johnson to the Smithsonian Institution’s Board of Regents and serves as Vice-Chairman of the Republican Governance Group. He serves as the Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, the Armed Services Committee, and the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.
>>> State of the Arts in Miami-Dade County is well, said Mayor Daniella Levine Cava Thursday at her arts ceremony Thursday, hosted by lobbyist Al Dotson,
Brian May chairman of the cultural affairs council. The Arsht Center along with a host of others have made Dade no longer a “cultural arts dessert,” to a vibrant hub of cultural activity generating some $1.5 billion in tax revenue, said May also a lobbyist.
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST
>>> New JHS ER on the main campus “progressing well, will have a second floor with heliport landing space, said Migoya. Also, CEO Migoya contract extended to June 2025, has been a unique leader working for a common goal patient quality and holistic healthcare.
CEO Carlos Migoya last Wednesday at the board meeting said the new ER is progressing well, “is one of the largest and most advanced.” The facility replacing what one time was terrible with uninsured crowding the facility. Using funds from the $750 million revenue bond paying off old bonds and saving the trust some$20 to $78 million in refinance savings, CFO Mark Knight said to the board in February.
What about the new ER?
The 54,000 sq.ft., new facility will now have a second story shell on the roof and helipad, said Migoya whose contract was extended from Feb.25 to June 2025. The man who has an eye for leadership senior staff, he had gotten the highest marks in his review done by a diverse board of community leaders and trustees.
$250 million revenue bond, for “neglected infrastructure,” roofing air handling needed upgrades, said CEO Migoya, and approved by county commission recently
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
The State of the Arts in Miami-Dade County is well, said Mayor Daniella Levine Cava Thursday at her arts ceremony Thursday, hosted by lobbyist Al Dotson, Brian May chairman of the cultural affairs council. The Arsht Center along with a host of others have made Dade no longer a “cultural arts dessert,” to a vibrant hub of cultural activity generating some $1.5 billion in tax revenue, said May also a lobbyist.
The Children’s Trust has also played an important role in exposing young people to the arts, said May. He also noted Gov. Ron De Santos in his preliminary budget has $27 million dedicated to the arts, said May and urged people to support the bill and keep the funding after being zeroed out last year in the state budget by the governor. The Knight Foundation has been a major cultural arts accelerator over the decades, and around the nation.
>>> Will new constitutional officers hamper mayor Cava’s cost be cutting in falling tax dollars after federal funds gone?
MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The school board Audit and Budget review committee is holding a meeting April 4, at the district’s school administration building. This committee made up of accountants CPA’s is the community firewall but that was always not the case with political appointees and was not a good watchdog for the community but that changed after I hammered the board members back then and is a solid committee for the community. To see the agenda go to: http://api.dadeschools.net/WMSFiles/23/pdfs/24-25/AC_February_4_2025/Agenda.pdf
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST
>>> Jackson Health System seeking $250 million revenue bond, for “neglected infrastructure,” roofing air handling needed upgrades, said CEO Migoya, and approved by county Tuesday
The county commission approved this revenue bond on Tuesday at the BCC without fanfare. After the public system got its confidence back with taxpayers after years of losing money in past decades, but has changed under the leadership of CEO Carlos Migoya over the past12-years.
STATE OF FLORIDA
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>> Will new constitutional officers hamper mayor Cava’s cost be cutting in falling tax dollars after federal funds gone?
County Mayor Daniela Levine Cava in her State of the County speech recently stated with revenues tight after federal dollars were being depleted that she is pushing efficiencies in the county administration even though hiring many employees in her first term.
THE WDR has watched county government for 24-years, and while fire and police do a good job with the new constitutional offices and consolidations millions can be saved by not changing the seals of the new officers’ that when Ken Jenne in Broward was elected it cost $7 million to change all the police cars that all had his name on them and these new officers’ they must be cost effective in creating their new officers and the money.
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST
>>> Jackson Health System seeking $250 million revenue bond, for “neglected infrastructure,” roofing air handling needed upgrades, said CEO Migoya, and $250 million Rev. bond approved by BCC Tuesday, for facilities maintenance.
Wednesday’s Trust board meeting was an eventful event. CEO Carlos Migoya announced the appointment of a new COO David Zambrana, R.N., MBA., Ph.D., and the man a nurse with an MBA and Ph.D. is a trusted member of Jackson’s management team said, Migoya to the board.
He also announced that the health system was requesting the county commission to support a new revenue bond. Of $250 million for the Jackson campus and the last revenue bond was in 2005. The public health care system was approved a $830 million GOB. The new funding will integrate the Cerner technology critical to patient safety, and other dated technology, said Migoya.
Migoya said for every one dollar of the bond by leveraging revenues $2.00 was returned to the trust he said. The new revenue bond is because of “capital neglect,” over the years. The trust in 2005 had some $500 million in capital needs and could not finance such needs. Migoya a former banker was reviewed by the trust chair Amadeo Lopez-Castro, III, whose father was a past chair of the health trust in 2002.
What about the CEO’s review?
Lopez-Castro did the review with others of Migoya and Castro said he received the “highest rating,” for Migoya who not only turned around the beleaguered institution but worked closely with nursing and physician staff.
He also partnered with medical staff and nurses and uplifted public healthcare for the institution that had the reputation of where “the poor went to die,” was the popular perception for years and that has changed with the voters passing the bond years ago and created new updated facilities including a much-needed rehabilitation facility. If one went into the basement in Jackson before the bond it was frozen in turn of the previous century technology.
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CITIZEN ADVOCATE’ KEEPS TABS ON POLITICIANS
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MIAMI-DADE WATCHDOG WILL BE MISSED
Published on January 20, 2003, Page 1E, Orlando Sentinel, PAPERWORK TIGER, Miami’s citizen watchdog piles up government files in his quest to keep the “little people” informed. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2003-01-20-0301190045-story.html
>>> Watchdog Report publisher named ‘Best Citizen’ 2003 by the Miami New Times
The publisher would like to thank the weekly alternative paper Miami New Times for bestowing their 2003 Best of Miami, ‘Best Citizen’ award to me and I am honored. Thank you. To read the full story go to http://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2003/people-and-places/best-citizen-6399517
>>> And to support the WDR go to my Pay Pal account that is easy to use and right now would be a great time: http://paypal.me/WatchdogReport
Further, if you would rather send a check send it made out to Daniel Ricker and mail it to 3109 Grand Ave., #125 Miami, Fla. 33133. Thank you, Dan.
>>> And having a member of the press at public meetings gives teeth to the Florida Sunshine Law (and why you get a Flu Shot) and open meetings tape recorded keeps good governance in place and reduces waste fraud and abuse, and public corruption, and is why you don’t speed in front of a state trooper for example. And hope you can support the WDR efforts to have informed residents of public institutions issues, in our community.
>>> Further the www.watchdogreport.net in South Florida is an established news service presence, because most people are too busy to go to these important meetings., and all the information comes through me as a central point allowing me to see things at a 100-mile altitude and being an early warning system when projects have overruns or other issues. But my job is to sound the alarm and I have done so many times over the past years in a host of ways.
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